Whether your car accident happened today or years ago, if you’re currently experiencing acute back pain you should seek treatment from a doctor who specializes in car accident injury care. The longer you wait, the greater the likelihood that you’ll develop other serious problems later on.

Diagnosis

On your first visit, your car accident doctor will evaluate you for any injuries. The evaluation will consist of testing and documenting your range of motion, flexibility, strength and level of pain. Your doctor will then use this information to help establish the treatment you need. Your first appointment should take place within 24 hours of your accident, but the evaluation can still provide useful data if conducted after that time period. A typical injury screening takes approximately 30 minutes, but more time may be needed if an x-ray has to be taken.

Treatment

Your treatment plan will depend upon the results of your screening and evaluation. Care for acute back pain generally centers on spinal manipulation, but can include therapy, physiotherapy, electric stimulation, ultrasound, traction and other techniques.

Treatment for acute pain is typically ongoing, this is also known as supportive care. Your treatments are designed to produce pain relief and aid your injuries in healing properly, preventing stiffness and pain from developing in later years. As your body heals, it changes, and supportive care keeps up with that.

Acute back pain can also be a symptom of even more serious issues, like a herniated or ruptured disk, osteoporosis or other degenerative changes. Acute back pain can wear you down, both emotionally and physically if left untreated, and sufferers have been known to demonstrate symptoms of depression.

Insurance

When seeking treatment for a car accident injury, it’s vital that you choose a doctor who knows how to properly document and file your diagnosis and treatment information. If this information is not documented or filed correctly, you could end up not qualifying for the compensation you deserve. Additionally, should your accident lead to court, car accident doctors are are prepared for those situations, and can be a great benefit to your case.